A reader sends in an urgent question. She says her dog is friendly, affectionate, and seems healthy. The problem? He poops up to 4 times on walks!

Question: My golden retriever, Jurgen, is a friendly dog — affectionate and socialized. He doesn’t scare easily and doesn’t appear to be nervous or anxious. He sometimes poops up to 4 times on walks. The poo isn’t runny or soft. I let him out frequently. People look at me as if to say, “What’s up with all the pooping?” He has regular wellness screens and veterinarian visits, and is (thankfully) very healthy. Why does my dog poop so much?

If this is the way Jurgen has always been, then it’s probably just the way his body works.

If you feed him only once or twice a day, try giving the same amount of food, but in smaller portions more frequently throughout the day. Over time this may split up the sole daily poop session (instead of going 4 times during a single walk, he’ll go once during each of the 2 or 3 walks you give him daily).

Don’t Overlook Diet

Have you made any changes to Jurgen’s diet? This could affect his bowel movements.

It may be time to try a new brand of food. Consult your veterinarian for recommendations. Regardless of your chosen brand, incorporate the new food slowly into your dog’s diet, over at least a week’s time.

If you’re exercising Jurgen a lot, taking him on long walks, then you can expect more bowel movements. This is probably natural, and you’ll just need to get used to bringing more bags for the waste.

Go Easy on Mother Nature

By the way, if you’re looking for an environmentally friendly poop bag for your puppy, look no further than our best-selling Pooch Pick-Up, which is biodegradable and compostable.

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